Reynolds, Hubbell: Don't rush legalizing Iowa sports bets

Gov. Kim Reynolds still has questions about sports betting
William Petroski, bpetrosk@dmreg.com

FILE - In this March 15, 2018, file photo, a board displays odds for different bets on the NCAA college basketball tournament at the Westgate Superbook sports book, in Las Vegas. Proponents of legal sports gambling often point to Nevada as a model for effective monitoring. Sports betting has been legal in Las Vegas in some form since the 1930s. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) ORG XMIT: NY253(Photo11: AP)

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The American Gaming Association reports that five states currently allow full-scale sports wagering.

Officials with the Iowa Gaming Association say the organization will ask the state legislature to consider a bill in 2019.

Neither Gov. Kim Reynolds nor Fred Hubbell, her Democratic challenger, appear to be in any rush to legalize sports betting in Iowa.

Reynolds told reporters Tuesday at the Iowa Capitol she won't speculate whether she would sign legislation to legalize sports wagering until she sees a bill passed by both the Iowa House and Senate in its final form.

It's likely such a bill will be introduced in early 2019, but there's no guarantee it will win approval from the Iowa Legislature.

"What we are doing is working with the legislature, working with the different agencies to see what that would look like and how it would be implemented. There are a lot of questions to be answered," Reynolds said.

Hubbell spokeswoman Remi Yamamoto said Hubbell believes Iowa's elected leaders should see how other states make legalized sports wagering work, as well as have informed input from Iowans, before jumping into any commitment.

The U.S. Supreme Court in May struck down a federal ban on sports wagering in most states in a case brought by New Jersey officials. At least five states now allow full-scale sports betting, including Nevada, New Jersey, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Delaware, according to the American Gaming Association.

Three additional other states have passed legislation moving toward legalization. Iowa is among 14 states where legislation has been introduced to legalize sports betting, but it has not passed.

Wes Ehrecke, president of the Iowa Gaming Association, which represents the state's 19 commercial casinos, said Tuesday his organization will ask the Iowa Legislature to consider a bill during the 2019 session that is similar to a measure debated last session in the Iowa House.

House Study Bill 592 was drafted with the intent of allowing Iowa gamblers to establish sports wagering accounts at Iowa's casinos. Gamblers could participate either by visiting Iowa casino sports books or by placing wagers online, including on their smartphones.